Please help. Second hen in 3 days is dying.

[McChooky]

Wyorp mentioned if your hens could have gotten into something mouldy and you mentioned they have access to the compost. I used to keep my compost where my hens could access it and then after reading up on botulism I moved it… scary stuff. It can cause sudden onset of symptoms and death very quickly. Not saying that’s what’s happening for sure in your case but it’s something to seriously consider.

After a mysterious disease killed 2 hens I fenced my chickens out of my compost piles and only recently started composting again(my chickens are fenced out of both)

 

[azygous]

I also have done away with my compost pile after losing chickens to the evils that often lurk there. Compost piles often have a deep layer of anaerobic bacteria and it can kill in less than 24 hours after a chicken eats from it. The symptoms are extreme lethargy and white and clear watery poop. If it's treated early with an antibiotic, the chicken can survive. I use amoxicillin 250mg but if you have other broad spectrum antibiotic on hand, you may be able to use one of them.

 

[Lillith37]

@azygous @NorthwoodsChick said they have liquimycin IM? Perhaps they should try that and give fluids?

 

[azygous]

I can't advise on that antibiotic as I've never used it. If you are familiar with the dosage for chickens, by all means use it.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

The liver was large and fatty (cream colored) streaks- looked like that from my meat birds.

If you lose the one that is now sick, try to get some photos or better yet, send the body for testing/diagnostics through your state lab.

Could be a combination of things going on, but it seems the most common causes of decline in laying hens are reproductive and organ failure/dysfunction - these often go hand in hand.

I agree with @azygous you can try an antibiotic and see if that makes a difference.


https://www.ralcoagriculture.com/post/identifying-poultry-layer-liver-diseases
https://www.thepoultrysite.com/articles/fatty-liver-haemorrhagic-syndrome
https://www.veterinariadigital.com/en/articulos/poultry-liver-challenges-derived-from-the-diet/

 

[McChooky]

I've had terrible luck trying to raise fish in planted aquariums with real soil substrate. Same type of bacteria (anaerobic)

 

[NorthwoodsChick]

I can't advise on that antibiotic as I've never used it. If you are familiar with the dosage for chickens, by all means use it.

thank you. It’s good for mycoplasma but I’m almost certain this is not respiratory. I just don’t know anymore. I am feeling very defeated.
Unfortunately, the hen died in the night. I am sending her to my state’s lab for diagnostics. Hopefully it doesn’t take long. I have isolated another hen that has loose stools..this is how the others started- loose green one day then watery followed by rapid decline.

 

[NorthwoodsChick]

If you lose the one that is now sick, try to get some photos or better yet, send the body for testing/diagnostics through your state lab.

Could be a combination of things going on, but it seems the most common causes of decline in laying hens are reproductive and organ failure/dysfunction - these often go hand in hand.

I agree with @azygous you can try an antibiotic and see if that makes a difference.


https://www.ralcoagriculture.com/post/identifying-poultry-layer-liver-diseases
https://www.thepoultrysite.com/articles/fatty-liver-haemorrhagic-syndrome
https://www.veterinariadigital.com/en/articulos/poultry-liver-challenges-derived-from-the-diet/

She did pass last night. I’m sending to state lab.
She seemed to rebound, even took a few bites of mash and walked a few steps but still looked tired.

If you lose the one that is now sick, try to get some photos or better yet, send the body for testing/diagnostics through your state lab.

Could be a combination of things going on, but it seems the most common causes of decline in laying hens are reproductive and organ failure/dysfunction - these often go hand in hand.

I agree with @azygous you can try an antibiotic and see if that makes a difference.


https://www.ralcoagriculture.com/post/identifying-poultry-layer-liver-diseases
https://www.thepoultrysite.com/articles/fatty-liver-haemorrhagic-syndrome
https://www.veterinariadigital.com/en/articulos/poultry-liver-challenges-derived-from-the-diet/

She did pass last night. I’m sending to state lab. I am still ruling in GI, reproductive as underlying cause. The crop did not smell foul or sour so I believe the failing crop to be organ dysfunction due to X.
She seemed to rebound, even took a few bites of mash and walked a few steps.
Thank you for the article links.
One more hen now with lose stools (pic above on azyg reply). This is looking too familiar- hen now isolated and very actively protesting that state. She laid today- if she hints at worsening I am giving abx. benefit vs risk:at this point is a null response to abx vs chance succcess is better than nothing if the outcome is the same.

 

[Kiki]

She did pass last night. I’m sending to state lab.
She seemed to rebound, even took a few bites of mash and walked a few steps but still looked tired.

She did pass last night. I’m sending to state lab. I am still ruling in GI, reproductive as underlying cause. The crop did not smell foul or sour so I believe the failing crop to be organ dysfunction due to X.
She seemed to rebound, even took a few bites of mash and walked a few steps.
Thank you for the article links.
One more hen now with lose stools (pic above on azyg reply). This is looking too familiar- hen now isolated and very actively protesting that state. She laid today- if she hints at worsening I am giving abx. benefit vs risk:at this point is a null response to abx vs chance succcess is better than nothing if the outcome is the same.

I am glad you are sending her for a necropsy and answer. I look forward to those results.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

She did pass last night. I’m sending to state lab.
She seemed to rebound, even took a few bites of mash and walked a few steps but still looked tired.

She did pass last night. I’m sending to state lab. I am still ruling in GI, reproductive as underlying cause. The crop did not smell foul or sour so I believe the failing crop to be organ dysfunction due to X.
She seemed to rebound, even took a few bites of mash and walked a few steps.
Thank you for the article links.
One more hen now with lose stools (pic above on azyg reply). This is looking too familiar- hen now isolated and very actively protesting that state. She laid today- if she hints at worsening I am giving abx. benefit vs risk:at this point is a null response to abx vs chance succcess is better than nothing if the outcome is the same.

I'm sorry about your hen.
Hopefully you will get more info soon so you can get on top of whatever is happening.